Assistant Secretaries of State for Intelligence and Research

On Oct 10, 1957, the Department of State elevated the position of Special Assistant
to the Secretary for Intelligence and Research to that of Director of the Bureau of
Intelligence and Research, with rank equivalent to that of an Assistant Secretary of
State. Since 1947, the Special Assistant had been in charge of intelligence
functions that the Department of State first received after the abolition of the
wartime Office of Strategic Services in 1945. An Act of Congress (P.L. 99-93) of Aug
16, 1985, authorized the appointment of an Assistant Secretary of State for
Intelligence and Research. Prior to this date, the Secretary of State designated all
Directors of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (appointment dates in
brackets). Since Aug 1986, all incumbents have served as Assistant Secretaries of
State and been commissioned by the President.